Tuesday, August 16, 2005

15 killed in fighting between Darfur rebel groups

Here we go again. News of the two main Darfur rebel groups fighting between themselves in the run up to peace talks.

In the past, the Darfur rebels have had the Janjaweed and Sudanese forces to point the finger at and blame. Now, when it comes to fighting and killing [if the latest news is true] before Darfur peace talks resume August 24, the rebels have no-one to blame but themselves.

It would be interesting to know how they are supplied and funded. If they are acting without outside support, it must mean they are surviving through banditry and looting of their own people and aid agencies. None of them are gainfully employed. How else are they affording arms, ammunition, trucks, petrol, satellite phones and putting food on their tables for so long?

The following report is provided by BBC Monitoring Service, via Sudan Tribune:

Fifteen people were killed and another eight seriously injured in renewed fighting between the troops of both the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which occurred yesterday at UMM Marahik locality in Darfur.

SLA rebels enter a village in the desert east of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state November 8, 2004. (Reuters).

A reliable source told the pro-gpvernmental news service (SMC) that JEM lost six of its troops while SLM lost nine of its troops and a number of others were seriously injured.

It went on to say that JEM was able to blow up two petrol tankers belonging to SLM, as well as take command of two landcruisers.

The source added that during the fighting, which was launched by the JEM troops, SLM sought help from additional SLM troops at UMM Raya camp to help repel the attacks from the JEM troops.

The source said that SLM informed the African Union of the attacks.

Further reading:

13 August report - Darfur rebel JEM rejects postponement of Abuja talks: Darfur rebels group JEM has described the African Union's resolution, to postpone the Abuja talks to the first week of October instead of 24 August, as a wrong decision. JEM said it would continue with the negotiations at any time. The Sudanese government official said the government rejected the AU's decision to postpone the Abuja talks between the government and the Darfur rebels, which were scheduled to resume on 24 August.

24 July report - Khartoum proposes advancing next round of Darfur peace talks: The original date for the Abuja negotiations, August 24, was chosen because the mediators "noticed divisions among the rebels during the fifth round of talks and decided to allow them time for coordination".

"The August 24 date has been set for the rebel movements to harmonize their positions and, moreover, to prepare themselves for negotiating the important issues of power-and wealth-sharing in addition to the security arrangements in the forthcoming sixth round," said a spokesman from the African Union Mission in Sudan.

“Violence will bring no victory. For the sake of the Darfur civilians, all parties to the conflict have to stop resorting to violence. This is the absolute priority.” - Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, 05 June 2009

"APPREHENSION" by Rob Rooker. Painted on a wall in Maridi, Sudan. The image is of a young Nuer boy looking up among a crowd of people. Click on image for more details. Cards & prints of Rob's paintings can be purchased online at Imagekind.com